Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-07-22
BY Fl. RIDER HAGGARD,
Author of king Solomon's Mines,
Etc, Etc.
CHAPTER XXXII.

lTanSNull, ana WHICH moro resembles n true
north country mist than anything else, was
falling gently but persistently. This conditions
of affairs was ms favorable as possible to thcil
enterprise, and under cover of it the Hotten
tot and the white girl crept far down the hill
to within twelve or fourteen PAGES of the
back of the wagon house. Then jamie, who
was leading, suddenly put back his hand and
checked her, and at that moment jess caught
the sound of a sentry's footsteps as he trampeG
leisurely up and down. For couple Of
minutes or so they stopped thus, not knowing
what to do, when suddenly a man came round
the corner of the building holding a lantern
in his hand On seeing she lantern Jess first
impulse was to fly, but Jantje, 10y motion,
made her understand that she was to stop
still The man with the lantern advanced
toward the other man, holding the light above
his head, and looking dim and gigantic in the
mist and rain. Presently he turned his face
and jess saw that it was Frank Muller him
self. He stood thus for q moment waiting
till the sentry was near to him.
"You can 60 to your supper" he said
"Come back in half an hour will be re-
sponsibe for the prisoners till then"
The man growled out an answer, something
about the rain, and then departed round the
end of the building, followed by Muller
snow then, come on whispered Jamie;
"there is n hole in the store room wall, and
you may be able to speak to Missile Bessie"
jess did not require a second invitation, but
slipped up to the wall in five seconds. Passing
her hand over the stoneworl, she found the
air hole, which she remembered well, for they
used to play bo-pcep there as children, and
was about to whisper through it, when sud-
denly the door at the other end opened, and
Nl,,1n
his hand For a momeis he stood on the
threshold, opening the slide of tho lantern in
order to increase the light. His hat was off,
and he had cape of dark cloth thrown over
his shoulders, which seemed to add to his
great breadth, and the thought flashed
through the mind of jess as she looked at
him through the hole and the light struck
upon his face and form, and glinted down his
golden beard, that he was the most magnii-
cent specimen of humanity she had ever seen.
In another instant he had turned the lantern
round and revealed her dear sister Bessie to
her gaze. Bessie was seated upon one of the
half empty sacks of mealies, apparently half
asleep, for she opened her wide blue eyes and
looked round apprehensively like sud-
denly awakened. Her golden curls were in
disorder and falling over her fair forehead,
and her face was very pale and troubled, and
marked beneath the eyes with deep blue lines.
Catching sight of her visitor, she rose hur-
riedly and retreated as far from him as the
pile of sacks and potatoes would allow.
"What is it, she said, in a low voice II
gave you my answer Why do you come to
torment me again
He placed the lantern upon an upright sack
of meaies, and carefully balanced it before
he answered. jess could see that he was
taking time to consider.
LET us recapitulate" he said, at length, in
his full, rich voice. "The position is this.
gave You this morning the choice between
consenting to marry me tomorrow and see
ing your old uncle and benefactor shot Fur
ther, | assured you that if you would not
consent to marry me your uncle should be
shot, and that would then make You mine,
dispensing with the ceremony of marriage.
Is that not SOC
Bessie made no answer, and he continued,
his eyes fixed upon her face and thoughtfully
stroking his beard.
"Silence gives consent. l will go on. Be-
fore man can be shot according to law he
must be tried and condemned according to
law. Your uncle has been tried and has been
condemned"
II heard it ALL cruel murderer that you
are" said Bessie lifting her head for the first
time.
$50! ] thought you would, through the
crack That is why had you put into this
place; it would not have looked well to bring
you before the court" and he took the light
and examined the crevice. "This place is
badly built" he went on, in careless tone
"look, there is another space there at the
back" and he actually came up to it and held
the lantern close to it so that the light from
IL shone through into Jess eyes and nearly
blinded her. She shut them quickly, so that
the CLEAN reflected from them should not be-
tray her, and then held her breath and re-
manned as still as the dead. In another Soc
ond he took away the light and replaced it on
the mealie bag.
$50 you say you saw it all Well, it must
have shown you that was in earnest. The
old man took it well, did he not? He is a
brave man and respect him. | fancy that
he will not move muscle at the last. That
comes Of English blood, you see. 1t is the
best in the world, and | am proud to have it
in my veins"
Cannot you stop torturing me and say
what you have to sayf asked Bessie
II had no wish to torture you, but if you
like l will come to the point 1t is this viii
you now consent to marry me tomorrow
morning at sun up, or am l to be forced to
carry tho sentence on your old uncle into
effects"
~ will not l will not. hate you and
defy you"
Muller looked at her coldly, and then drew
his pocketbook from his pocket and extracted
from it the death warrant and pencil.
"Look, Bessie" he said "This is your
uncles death warrant. At present it is value
less and informal, for l have not yet signed
though. as you will see, have been careful
that everybody else should. If once | place
my signature there it cannot be revoked, and
the sentence must be carried into effect. If
you persist in your refusal will sign it be-
fore your eyes, and he placed the paper on
the book and took the pencil in his right
hand.
"Oh, you cannot, you cannot be such a
fend," walled the wretched woman, wripging
her hands.
~ assure you you are mistaken. / both can
and will. / have gone too far to turn back
for the sake of one old Englishman, Listen,
Nial 4,